Rodney McAree 'massively proud' of Dungannon Swifts efforts in 'probably not a classic'
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree acknowledged his side’s Premiership stalemate with Bangor “was probably not a footballing classic” – but he left Clandeboye Park “massively proud” of their collective effort.
The Swifts started the current campaign by winning four of their opening five matches – recording clean sheets in each – as they look to build on consecutive top-half Premiership finishes.
McAree’s men have endured a tough recent run, going winless across their last six league games, but set solid foundations on Saturday against the Seasiders, who now sit two points adrift at the bottom.
Remarkably, Dungannon drew only one of 38 league matches last season and lost 22 times – a number only relegated Glenavon (26) surpassed – and McAree was happy to see his side’s determination to claim at least a point.
"It’s probably not a footballing classic,” McAree told the club’s media channel. “I thought in the early stages of the game we were the better team and then we showed a little less composure and invited a bit more pressure onto us.
"I thought second half we dominated in terms of territory, but we probably didn’t do enough to get the ball over the line.
"We had a few half chances, a couple of shots from inside the 18-yard box, but we probably didn’t do enough.
"I thought we showed some heart, desire, we wanted to try and keep that clean sheet.
"We’ve always pointed the finger in terms of last season we didn’t get enough draws, didn’t turn enough defeats into draws, and I think today we have shown a real doggedness about us on a difficult surface to play on.
"We showed a huge desire to make sure we left here with something...I’m massively proud of the players for their efforts.
"We made a few changes...we have people sitting in the wings who have done well in the past, John Scott did well at left-back and Adam Glenny comes back.
"Adam has took that position from him but John has been presented with an opportunity at centre-half and done ever so well.
"The boys coming into the team have to maintain the standards if they want to stay in the team, we have a very strong squad, plenty of players to utilise and put each other under pressure.
"We have to be fair across the board and I thought everyone who entered the field of play was very good.”